They're right in the criticism. That thing is never full when I walk by, and I used to be down in that neighborhood a lot. Would have been nice to have access to a nice place to study on that side of town. Yes, it was privately/athletics funded, they have a right to control access to the facility. That being said, it sends a poor message to the rest of campus. And is not in line with what was promised when it was built.

Of course they have a *right* to do it. No one is questioning that — this isn't Cuba.

The point is that there aren't good study facilities on the south side of campus, and there's this big modern facility that's virtually empty except during study tables. Why wouldn't they just open it up all other times? It makes sense...

I am a non-student athlete that was partnered up with a few hockey players for a group project. I was able to walk right in and start studying hassle free. I don't know if I was just lucky or what, but there was no turning away of any sort.

Ever since it was built there were changes that kind of spread the times of when we would be in there. Now it does not get as full at certain times, but you'll regularly see student-athletes spread out at during the day. Ive never seen them turn down anyone. I know of some students that went in and managed to use the AC. Though I think that the way the Daily wrote about it was a little harsh, the building does make life a little easier for student-athletes but I would not mind at all if they were to allow regular students to use it, as long as it was not packed all the time.

In Summary, the larger distinct populations/ concentrations get their own stuff. Those groups with more money (e.g. Athletes, B-School, Law School, & Engineering) get nicer stuff. It's the way the world works.

Now, each of these places lets others use their stuff, but if it crowds out the original group, some restrictions need to be placed on non-group members.

An Honors lounge anyone can enjoy, and an Honors lounge that doesn't have computers. The Honors office doesn't have study space either. Don't think the things mentioned above are comparable to those things.

The Comm department doesn't even get its own building...it's stuck in good old shitty U-Towers. For some reason this makes me laugh.

Also: I was down at Argus II (which frightens me) this afternoon editing a film and I noticed all the chairs in the building have "FRIEZE" written on their backs. I feel so old for having taken a class in that old turd.

I guess neither anecdote is really meaningful or interesting...I just figured as long as we're talking about on-campus buildings I'd mention my day.

U Towers makes me laugh. I don't know what sin I committed that made me deserve to get on their mailing list... but they send e-mails constantly from different @aol addresses (like bestaptdeals or noscrtydpst) and their deals just get more desperate as the year goes on. They would suck your dick to live there

That building is too nice to let just anyone in. If they did, everyone from south campus would go there instead of going to central campus, and it would be more crowded than the library. Then there would be no room for the athletes.

do you realize how many jersey chasers (guys and girls) would be stalking the halls just waiting to catch a glimpse of the more star-worthy athletes? It'd be a nightmare trying to police that place. And when the police are DPS...forget about it. Let the athletes have their peace and quiet. It would be nice, though, if there was a decent academic building on the South Side, but that's one of the sacrifices you make when you choose to live down there.

you know what, I go to Eastern and I would love to have the facilities that the regular U of M students already have. The article talks like this is the only state of the art study center U of M has. I'm pretty sure it isn't. I went to the library at Eastern one time last semester and found some computers that didn't turn on but had a mouse hooked up to the back while others work but didn't have a mouse. And you aren't able to take them off yourself and switch them to a different computer. These complaints are all about convenience, and while convenience is nice, sometimes it just comes off as whining. Deal with it.

Of all the perks that athletes get over the rest of the student body, this is what people are bitching about?

Stephen M. Ross gave the school a SHITLOAD of money. He can say what he wants it used for. We all want to recruit the top athletes to our school as well. Showing them a beautiful new building that is dedicated just to them is quite a selling point. When I was at UM a few years ago, no one bitched that there weren't enough places to study. This is pretty dumb, IMO.

I'm sure RR uses the Ross Center as a recruiting tool. He tells recruits that its an "athletes only" study center. Some kids may think thats a big plus. It may help sway a decision, it might not...but I guarantee the coaches promote it.